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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09011994 ZBA Minutes.;;. ~ . ~ ~ • MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 SPECIAL SESSION ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES The Zoning Board of Adjustment came to order at 7:31 p.m. with the following members present: Arden Morley, Sue Porretto, Victor Hansen, Frank Billings, Vice Chairman, Stephen Masera and Melinda Snell. Members absent were Rob Peterson and Lee Huber. Also present from the City were Dennis Holm, Chief Building Official and Cathleen King, Building Secretary. Members introduced themselves and procedures were explained. Frank Billings, Vice Chairman did not participate in the hearing of docket No. 94-09 as he is a member of the West University Methodist Church. Stephen Masera made a motion to appoint Arden Morley as acting Chairman for pocket No. 94-09. This motion was seconded by Sue Porretto. Voting was unanimous. • No residents were present to express opinion regarding any items that were not on the agenda. Notices were read and participants were sworn in. Sue Porretto made a motion to approve the notices as posted. This motion was seconded by Stephen Masera. Voting was unanimous. The first case on the Docket is the continuation of Docket No. 94-09 concerning property located at 3604 University, Tract 6a, Block 44, West University Place Second Addition, an application filed by West University Methodist Church, a request for a special exception to allow a single family residence to be used as a meeting place for classes and staff office space. Reverend John Collier of the West University Methodist Church explained the Church's application for a special exception. Reverend Collier explained that the Church is asking for a special exception to use a single family residence for classes and staff office space. The question that Reverend Collier wanted to address is why does the Church need this special exception granted. He explains that in May and June of 1994 the Church lost 9200 square feet of space, during that period the Church's Fellowship Hall was demolished to increase space for additional class rooms and create a larger • facility, therefore the existing program was severely strained by this loss. .. < • ` • In 1993 and 1994 organizations that Reverend Collier feels that have added to the quality of life to the community have used their facilities in various ways. There has been a great deal of cooperation and support from the Church helping the Boy Scouts, Brownies, Meals on Wheels, West University Soccer, Alcoholics Anonymous and many more. The demotion of Fellowship Hall has really effected what space the Church has had to offer to these organizations. If the Board grants this temporary special exception they will still use the existing Church facilities for these groups that they mention. The Church is not requesting that the house that they own will be used for community group however what will take place is that the Churches small groups that they have meeting at the Church now will meet and the house and free up more space for the community groups. As for the Church's own needs it has been strained in the following ways. The Church had a Fellowship Hall that seated over 200 persons for a meal that has been demolished, a kitchen that was demolished and both of the Youth rooms for the Mid-High and Senior-High have been demolished. Adult class rooms were demolished and all class room space for Alcoholics Anonymous and adult alcoholics was demolished also several closets and stages were demolished. • Reverend Collier explains that when it comes to the need and the strain that the Church feels from this demolition of Fellowship Hall both the Mid-High and Senior-High have no class rooms in the Church at the present time. Adult class rooms are meeting in offices including Reverend Collier's own and another class meets in the choir loft around and in between choir practice. Mothers day out and preschool was also affected, the Church has moved all the pews out of the Chapel and Sanctuary's just so one Mothers day out could be held which most of the participants are not members of the Church, this has affected one of the Church's major community meeting places as a place that we can offer the Church's community groups in this temporary situation until the new building is built. So without the granting of this special exception Reverend Collier feels that the Church cannot offer to the community as it would like. Additionally Reverend for additional parkin~ have met all of there submitted to the City stating conditions he exception petition. Collier explains that there will be no need ~ and that he has met with the neighbors and concerns. He then reads the letter that was and the Board dated September 1, 1994 has agreed to regarding his original special Darlene Thompson of 4129 Milton - She states that she is there representing the Arts of the community. She needed a place to hold • a recital and she stated that the Church opened there sanctuary doors to help. She feels that the Church provides an invaluable service to the community. :...: • - . . . • Jim Nemons of 3926 Oberlin - States that he is not a member of the Church but has known the Church to be a great help in the community. He explains that he is involved with Little League and they have always helped them out with meeting spaces, sometimes on short notice. He explains that the Church has also been there for the Little League in times of grief with the death of one of the players this past year, they were very supportive. Theresa Cooper 4104 Bissonnet - Girl Scout Leader explained that she has been meeting in Fellowship Hall and when it was torn down they moved into the drama building, which is under construction now. She states that the Church has been very supportive and is still going to try and find alternative meeting places. Julie Olrich 3022 Quenby - Is also here on behalf of the Girl Scouts. She explains that she is a troop leader and that her troops so not meet at West University Church but the Adult leaders that lead the troops within this area do meet there. She states that the Church has always been there to help. Bill Glazer 3107 Quenby - He states that he has been a resident for 21 years and the last 12 years he had been involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He explained that the Church is there sponsor and as their sponsor they provide them with a place to • have meetings. The scouting program of West University is quite Rob Owens - He states that he is a resident of Southside Place and is an architect for the Church. He states that the staff has been very diligent towards this remodel and states that they will systematically have maximum amount of room for these programs. strong, the Church has meetings there at least once a week, with the younger groups ages 6-11 meeting monthly. He also states that the Church has been very helpful and supporting whenever they needed a meeting place. He also points out that many of these scouts are not members of the Church but the Church is still very helpful. Eight letters were received in favor. Reverend Collier summed up his opening statement by stating that the Church is only seeking the best for the community and the neighborhood. Dennis Holm, Chief Building Official gave the City's point of view, stating that the City did not oppose to granting this special exception with the conditions that he has mentioned. Sue Porretto made a motion to close the evidentiary portion of the hearing. This motion was seconded by Stephen Masera. Voting . unanimous. ~• ~ ` • • . • Sue Porretto made a motion to grant the variance with no further discussion with the conditions that were mentioned in his previous letter. This motion was seconded by Stephen Masera. Voting was unanimous. Stephen Masera made a motion to adjourn the meeting. This motion was seconded by Sue Porretto. Voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. t~ ~CHAIRMAN ATTEST: ~ SECRETARY ~